Pyre

A very, very, VERY satisfied, healed, and yet horribly blushing Chiton, was cradled carefully in the hands of the lumbering titan Scorch. It was now next day after Chiton was rescued from his run in with the Ursa Minor, and after the rather, invigorating late afternoon & night, the changeling was able to absorb more than enough love energy from his new human friend, to be able to heal himself nearly completely while still being able to quench his hunger. And strangely enough, the human name Pyre seemed un-affected by the side effect of being drained of his love, sure he felt woozy and even tired, but after ten minutes from each drain he seemed to bounce back full of vigor. And ready to, apply treatment.

“Hey Chiton, how much further until we reach this Hive?” Pyre asked as the hatch to Scorch’s cockpit was left open, and the human was still munching away on some Ursa meat.

“Just another hour or so if we keep at this pace.”

Chiton said, sounding a little, embarrassed would be the right word, at what happened last night. Even though he was physically a mare during his treatment, he was still him. so it was still weird, which was the case whenever he was resorted to be the mare for a stallion, just to get some love energy.

The duo and the titan continued on their march through the forest, heading towards Chiton’s Hive. Now while the changeling appreciated the humans aide in his recovery, and helping him return home, as his wings & legs were still in rough condition, so he couldn’t travel on his own. Chiton was still unsure how the Hive, especially the Queen, would react to the human. Unlike himself who was saved by the human, and was able to gauge the human’s personality & traits from a different perspective, the Hive & the Queen might not give Pyre the chance. And while Chiton was compelled to try and help the human, he was certain that the Queen would be surely reprimand him. if not worst for, betraying, the Hive.

“So Chiton I got a question?” Pyre asked as he finished the last of his Ursa meat.

“If it’s about what happened last night, and what we…did….” Chiton said, still a little embarrassed about what happened.

“…that wasn’t my question. Plus, I doubt I could knock up anything in this world.” Pyre said. “My question was going to be, what’s your Hive like? Like is it something like a bee hive, or something else?”

Chiton then started to explain how the Hive worked. From the drones that did most of the manual labor around the Hive, from cultivating what little food changelings do eat aside from love, and maintaining the maintenance of the Hive to ensure it stays strong. Drones also work in small shops, like the ones ponies deal in, by providing basic necessities that a changeling needs like clothing, some forms of entertainment like books or games. Then there are the Soldiers who are guard the hive in, and outside the Hive, and are the first ones on the front lines of battle. Then there are the changelings that Chiton is part of, the Scouts. These changelings are the ones that leave the Hive the most of all changelings, providing recon and intelligence when they return to the Hive, they also go out to gather love energy and bring it to the Hive to keep it fed.

Then there is the leader of the changelings, the Queen herself. She is able to communicate with multiple changelings telepathically, organizing various tasks with various groups of changelings all at once. And she is the one that keeps watch over the Hatchery, where all the changeling eggs were laid, while also being the one to nourish any newly born nymphs until their a few years old, where the parents of the nymphs gathers them to raise them. the Queen is also the only one that can give birth to a new Queen class changeling, but this is a VERY rare event that any changeling Queen will do. Where it only happens in the last few decades of the Queens life span, where she raises her child and teaches the new Queen how to rule effectively. But the greatest task for the Queen, is to locate ample sources of love energy for the Hive, and stage various tasks or operations to gather the energy, and bring it to the Hive.

“Question there Chiton.” Pyre said after Chiton had finished explaining the last bit of the Queens role. “Has there ever been a King changeling, or is just Princess to Queen?”

“I’ve heard of one other changeling Hive that was ruled by a King, but was shortly brought down by an enemy force.” Chiton said. “And as for our Hive, there’s only been Queens.”

“And how is your current Queen?”

“She’s not exactly in the most, positive, of moods. Especially right now.” Chiton said as he laid in the titans hands, feeling the gentle rumblings of each step taken.

“How so?”

“Let’s just say that her latest major operation…didn’t go so well.” Chiton grumbled as he remembers the failed attempt of the biggest plot that the he had taken part of.

“So is the Hive taking a break from this epic fail.” Pyre asked bluntly.

“You can say that.” Chiton simply replied back. “At the moment the Hive is trying to lie low, and marshal are forces. While the Queen comes up with another plan.”

“Don’t suppose you’re Queen is against in hiring a mercenary?”

“Hired?” Chiton questioned as he turned to look at the human, riding comfortably in the cockpit, legs crossed and hanging out. “You’re willing to work for people that harvest love from others, and try to take over other kingdoms?” Chiton questioned.

“Well I got nowhere to go, have no idea where I am, also I’ve got nothing better to do so why not. Also I’d get a place to stay.” Pyre simply stated with a very laid-back casual tone. “So? Think your Queen would hire someone like me?”

“…perhaps. However our Queen isn’t fond of outsiders.” Chiton proclaims. “If you wish to be hired by our Queen, you will need to make a strong case of your usefulness.” Chiton then looked over the lounging human, and the titan that was carrying him like an injured bird.

“Although I think she will be most intrigued with you, & Scorch.” Chiton chortled as he patted the giants hands.

The pair continued their march through woods, and eventually exited, and came upon a wide expanse of deserted wasteland. The land was barren in nature, hardly any living plants could be seen, and as for any animals none could be seen. The marry band stepped off of the grassy hill, and started to walk down into the rocky landscape, dust and bits of sand being kicked up with each step Scorch takes. And as they walked the pair & titan could see the jutting spire of the changeling Hive. Tall as any mountain, but dreadful in appearance as its jagged appearance, and dark coloring in the light of the evening sun, was honestly quite a frightful sight.

“Quite the sight isn’t it.” Chiton said as he looked upon the Hive.

“In a way.” Pyre said before sitting up straight. “And it looks like we got company.” Pyre said as he pointed at the small squad of flying figures.

“That would be one of the patrols.” Chiton then stood, or at least sat up, just as the squad of fifteen armored changelings landed. Brandishing spears, obsidian swords, one even wielded a great big mace.

“Drop the changeling creature, or you’ll feel the weight of my mace!” the commanding officer of the squad said.

“Stand down, these two are no threat.” Chiton said quickly, before either the squad swarmed, or Pyre & Scorch burn them alive. “In fact they saved me from a Ursa Minor, and healed my wounds.” The other changelings seemed, surprised by Chiton’s words.

“These…creatures…helped a changeling?” one of the spear wielders asked, voice shocked as he looked at Chiton. Who nodded his head.

“And he wishes to see the Queen, and is willing to offer his services to the Hive, as a mercenary.”

Chiton said to the squad. The changelings looked at each other with bewildered expressions, for as long as they’ve known, no other creature not even other changelings from a different Hive bothers to aid them. the Commander of the squad took a step back, and faced the Hive and began transmitting his thoughts to the Queen, while the group waited for the Queens response. A moment of silence afterwards the Commander turned to face Chiton & Pyre.

“Her majesty wishes to see you.”

The group then made their way to the Hive, the squad hovering around the titan as it still carries Chiton. Twenty so minutes of walking from the edge of the wasteland to the Hive, the group enters in through a massive doorway, where two female changelings hauled Chiton onto a stretcher, and flew off with him while Pyre hopped out of his Titan and followed the squad. Scorch following in close behind. before the human and his titan vanished through another hallway, Chiton looked down at them with a worried look, with the way the Queen’s mood has been as of late, Pyre is going to need a lot of luck in order to persuade her to hire him. Let alone make it out of the Hive alive if he angers her.

Through the winding hallways that the Commander & his squad have been traversing, Pyre has been scanning the large halls, chambers and everything else about the Hive. It looked like what one might expect from an ant or termite mounds, but with stalls, shops and homes built in specific area that look like normal streets. There were also glowing moss and what look like, small butterfly cocoons, scattered about lighting the otherwise darken halls & chambers. And while the group continued to climb to the higher section of the spire, many of the Drone & Soldier changelings looked upon the human with curiosity, and the titan with awe as its stomps past them. soon enough the group came upon a long straight hallway, lined with green-fire torches, and more heavily armored Soldier changelings. All keeping a watchful eye on the human & titan.

The group then stood just in front of a pair of large black stone doors, decorated with pieces of jade and emerald pieces. Pyre looked at the Commander, who was standing stiffly still, before he loosen up and opened the door. Slipping through the small crack of the massive stone doors, the entire group entered into a cavernous chamber, where a large stone throne sat at the end surrounded by more torches. And as they all closed in on the throne, Pyre got a good look at who he summarized was, the Queen.

For one thing, she was a big girl, if she stood up straight she probably be around 7ft tall, if not a bit taller. Her body was also covered in a carapace like Chiton, and the squad, but her chest looked more smoother, less…shell-like. Her hair & tail were a turquoise blue color, and her eyes were a striking vibrant emerald green color. Sitting beside her throne was a mace, which was bigger & way more menacing looking than the one the Commander was lugging around. And for her outfit…it was basically a black corset with a chest plate, forearm bands, greave & boots, and waist plates with a cloth covering her crotch area. All in all from Pyre’s point of view, she looked dangerous, evil, and yet cunning, intelligent & strangely exotically erotic. Pyre’s did always had a strange taste in women.

The Queen then stood up to her full height, and indeed measured to be around 6ft in height. She then started to walk down the small steps, each of which her hips slightly swayed, yet she held a commanding expression on her face. when she reached the bottom of the steps, the Commander and his squad stood to the side to allow her to walk up to Pyre, who was just standing still and keeping eye contact with the Queen, while she began to circle around the human. She then stood in front of the human, made one glance up towards Scorch, then looked back down at Pyre, who was a foot & half shorter than she was.

“So…” the Queen uttered in a distorted, yet oddly alluring voice.

“This is the creature that rescued a changeling, from an Ursa Minor, and provided medical aid to said changeling…and willingly brought him home, and express in being a mercenary for, us?” She asked in a questioning tone, as if trying to gauge wither or not to believe what she has been told.

“Yes my Queen, that is what the Scout known as, Chiton, said when we meet the creature at the boarder.” The Commander said. The Queen then bent down slightly to at least be eye-level with Pyre, and giving the human a good look down her chest plate to see the top of her breasts.

“Who are you, where did you come from, and what are you & that thing?” the Queen asked in an authoritative tone.

“Names Pyre, he’s Scorch.” Pyre stated. “Came from another planet.” He said blatantly.

“And I’m a human, and Scorch is an Ogre-Class Titan.”

“…” the Queen just stood there; eyes narrow as she tries to read the human’s expression. “…strange.” She finally said.

“What is?” Pyre asked while quirking a brow.

“You are not even trying to mask your emotions, or trying to act differently.” The Queen said as she stood back up to her full height, while Pyre just shrugged.

“Never seen the point to try and hide what I’m feeling, or thinking. Kind’ve like to be as honest as I can, plus, you never have to guest or try and figure out what I’m thinking.” Pyre said as he stepped back, stepping onto Scorch’s hand and was lifted to the cockpit, and sat on the rim. “So…am I hired?”

The Queen turned on her hooves and made her way up the steps, her hips still having a sway to them, her tail swishing from side to side. She then made a curt sharp turn, before sitting down on her throne, throwing one leg on top of the other. And placing her left cheek in her hand, as her eyes continue to scan the human, trying to see if she can detect anything that the human might be hiding. But, there’s nothing, no sense of deceit or any kind of lie in this human. It was strange for the Queen, whenever any creature is in the presence of a changeling, there’s always something inside them that says: disgust, appalled or scared.

But this human…there was none of that.

“Here is my proposition for you, Pyre.” The Queen said as she sits up in her throne.

“Demonstrate your capabilities to me, you will fight some of my most trained warriors…” she then focused on Scorch. “And I well have a special opponent selected for you & Scorch to fight.” The Queen then developed a small grin of mischief pleasure.

“Show me your worth, and I’ll consider hiring you.” Pyre develops his own grin before leaning forward a bit, while Scorch cracked its knuckles, causing a horrible sound. All the while Pyre’s blue eyes turned a deep crimson red, that seemed to have a slight glow.

“Name the time…and the place.”